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Business Environment Profiles - New Zealand

Females in the labour force

Published: 21 November 2024

Key Metrics

Females in the labour force

Total (2025)

1450 Thousands of people

Annualized Growth 2020-25

1.6 %

Definition of Females in the labour force

This report analyses the total number of females in the labour force. This includes all females aged 15 years and over working (full-time or part-time) or are currently willing and able to work and are available to start immediately. The data is calculated as an average of quarterly statistics sourced from Statistics New Zealand (Tatauranga Aotearoa). The data is seasonally adjusted and presented to thousands of people per financial year.

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Recent Trends – Females in the labour force

IBISWorld anticipates the number of females in the labour force to remain steady in 2024-25, to reach 1.45 million people. Data from Stats NZ shows that the seasonally adjusted female unemployment rate was 4.9% in the September 2024 quarter, up slightly from 4.7% in the previous quarter. This increase in unemployment highlights ongoing labour market obstacles amid economic uncertainties influencing job availability. Despite these difficulties, the female labour force participation rate stood at 67.1%, reflecting strong workforce engagement. However, it declined slightly from 67.4% in the prior quarter, in which the male participation rate remained significantly higher at 76.1%. The persistent gap in labour force involvement is more pronounced among wahine Maori, who face a higher unemployment rate of 8.7%.

The female employment rate decreased to 63.8% in the September 2024 quarter, down from 64.2% in June. Seasonal factors and broader economic adjustments may influence this trend. However, the female underutilisation rate improved to 13.0%, compared to 13.8% in the previous quarter, though it remains above the 10.0% rate for men. According to the Ministry of Women, despite having higher qualifications than men, women are often employed in lower-skilled, lower-paid roles, reflecting structural inequalities. They also face additional hurdles, including discrimination, harassment and the burdens of unpaid caregiving, which hinder their ability to secure stable employment.

Over the past five years, growth in real GDP has driven employment opportunities, particularly in healthcare and education, where females are predominantly employed. Increased government spending in these sectors and income growth in retail and hospitality have supported job growth. Rising public sector wages have also created a more favourable environment for women to advance their positions in the workforce. Overall, IBISWorld forecasts the number of females in the labour force to rise by a compound annual rate of 1.6% over the five years through 2024-25.

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5-Year Outlook – Females in the labour force

IBISWorld forecasts the number of females in the labour force to be 1.48 million people in 2025-2...

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